The Man in Strings

XI. Superman

"Live-in kayo?" Naningkit ang mata ng ate ni Maine (I have to get my shit straight if Maine confirms that I can call her sister as Ate) at tiningnan ako mula ulo hanggang paa. Hindi ko naman sila masisisi. Walang ate na hindi magda-doubt sa mga kasama ng nakababatang kapatid na babae nya sa bahay, lalo na kung lalaki.

Kaso, mukha ba akong mandarambong? Ate Coleen, mapagkakatiwalaan po ako. Promise.

Maine descended the stairs and was obviously dumbfounded at the sight of her sister.

But more likely... at the sight of what her sister's holding.

"Ate!" Dali-dali nyang nilapitan ang kapatid at niyakap, pero hindi pa rin maalis ang tingin ni Ate Coleen sa akin. Okay lang sigurong tawagin ko syang Ate sa utak ko. Du'n din naman papunta ang balak ko. "Bakit naman wala kang pasabi?"

"Emergency," lalong naningkit ang mga mata ng kapatid nya sa akin at halata ko namang hindi ako welcome. Dumako na ang tingin nya kay Maine, at tumaas ang kanang kilay nya sa aming dalawa. "Uulitin ko. Live-in ba kayo?"

"Hindi Ate," kalmadong sagot ni Maine. Bakit parang mas tense pa 'ko? "Nagkataon lang talaga."

"Pero dito ka umuuwi?" Tanong nya sa'kin, kaya tumango naman ako.

She rolled her eyes. "E 'di live-in nga. Dami nyo pang excuses, eh." She handed... a baby.

To Maine.

Thousands of images flooded my head with the sight of Maine holding a baby. Is this it? The feeling of being a father? Forget the process before that but Maine - with a real kid, not a fish this time - looked... more beautiful than ever.

"Paki-alagaan muna si Matti, ha?" Habilin nu'ng Ate nya. "Babalik ako bukas ng umaga."

"Ate naman!" Maine looked so awkward holding her nephew. Teka... 'wag mong sabihing first time nyang mag-aalaga ng bata?! "Anong alam ko sa pag-aalaga ng bata?! Sa'yo hinabilin ni Ate si Matti, 'di ba? Bakit mo pinapasa sa'kin?!"

"You have him," Ate Coleen pointed at me. "Play mom and dad. Or whatever. Just do your usual thing."

"Usual thing ko ba magka-baby?!" I'm very, very amazed that Maine's able to produce a decent reply towards her sister, because I'm completely frozen right on the spot.

Ate Coleen rolled her eyes, again, and waved a hand. "Alam ko namang hindi mo papatayin si Matti," sabi nya. "I don't have decent friends to entrust him to. Pinagkakatiwalaan ko kayong dalawa na babalikan ko 'yang pamangkin ko in one piece na walang nawawalang organ." No one even had the guts to laugh at her ill-joke. She made an imaginary heart with her fingers, just as she was about to head towards the door. "What a happy family," she chanted. "I still have to get my nails done. Ciao, belle!"

She shouted even after the door had closed. "Don't get jealous and refrain yourselves from making a nephew as a playmate for Matti tonight!" And it was followed by an annoying giggle.

Seriously, pakiramdam ko ngayon si Maine ang pinakanormal sa kanila.

Then Maine handed Matti to me. I was caught off-guard, so I immediately caught the baby in my arms. He wasn't heavy, but the feeling was different. I'm fine with kids, as long as they don't annoy me, but Matti wasn't a kid yet. He's still a baby. A freakin' baby I have no idea how to take care of.

"Naka-leave ka ngayon, 'di ba?" Pa'no nya nalaman?! "Alagaan mo muna si Matti for a while, pwede?"

I panicked. "I'm just as clueless as you are!" I tried to explain the situation. "Maine, hindi ako nag nag-alaga kay Riza nu'ng bata pa sya. Our mother was so attentive and even if she wasn't around, we'd have nannies. Anong alam ko?"